Destination Imagination® (DI) is an exhilarating after-school activity in which students work in teams to solve mind-bending Challenges and present their solutions at Tournaments.
Teams are tested to think on their feet, work together and devise original solutions that satisfy the requirements of the Challenges. Participants gain more than just basic knowledge and skills—they learn to unleash their imaginations and take unique approaches to problem solving.
72,000 children participate in DI each year
12,000 teams compete in DI each year
1.3 million DI Alumni are developing solutions for our world
6,000-7,000 schools are involved in DI
More than 30 countries participate in DI
The program consists of two main elements: the Team Challenge and Instant Challenge.
Team Challenges are designed to be open-ended and multidisciplinary. Teams spend several weeks or months working on the Team Challenge of their choice, and they present their solutions at Tournaments. Each of the six competitiveTeam Challenges has a different educational and creative focus:
Challenge A: Technical/Mechanical Design
Challenge B: Scientific Exploration and Theater Arts
Challenge C: Theater, Literature, and Fine Arts
Challenge D: Improvisation
Challenge E: Structural/Architectural Design
projectOUTREACH: Service Learning
Rising Stars!: Noncompetitive
The Rising Stars! Challenge is designed for students in 2nd grade and introduces students to teamwork and creative thinking.
Instant Challenge
Instant Challenges require teams to engage in quick critical thinking. At a Tournament, a team will receive an Instant Challenge and the materials with which to solve it. The participants must think on their feet by applying appropriate skills to produce a solution in a period of just five to eight minutes. While Team Challenges build long-term problem solving and teamwork skills, Instant Challenges provide an exciting, impromptu creative experience for competing teams. By practicing Instant Challenges during the course of the season, students can increase their improvisational skills and train their minds to work quickly!
Appraiser Training
TBD
Regional Tournament
Saturday, ? at Discovery Middle School
Affiliate or State Tournament
Saturday, ? at UAHuntsville
Global Finals
? at The University of Tennessee
2015-16 Challenge Previews
Technical--Pace of Change
The world is full of changes, both big and small. So grab the wheel – let’s see them all!
Points of Interest -Design and build a vehicle able to carry at least one team member across the presentation site multiple times. -Change the vehicle propulsion system and the vehicle movement method during the presentation. -Create and present a story about change. The story will include a change in a character. -Create and present two Team Choice Elements that show off the team’s interests, skills, areas of strength, and talents.
Scientific--In Plain Site
Now you see me, now you don’t! But wait…what’s the twist??
Points of Interest -Research the many ways that camouflage is used by organisms in nature. -Showcase camouflage research in the visible appearance of an organism. -Create and present a story with a plot twist that is caused by the use of camouflage. -Apply camouflage methods to an original, team-designed and created set piece or prop. -Create and present two Team Choice Elements that show off the team’s interests, skills, areas of strength, and talents.
Structural--Musical Mashup
Hold it together and let it play out in this musical mashup.
Points of Interest -Design and build a structure that both supports weight and is a musical instrument. -Play a musical solo using the structure as a musical instrument. -Tell a story with at least one musical character. -Integrate the story with the weight placement testing of the structure. -Create and present two Team Choice Elements that show off the team’s interests, skills, areas of strength, and talents.
Fine Arts--Get a Clue
Whodunnit? Reach back in time to get a clue!
Points of Interest -Present a mystery story set on Earth in a team-chosen time period before 1990. -Discover, live on stage, which of the three suspect characters is responsible for the mystery. -Include a TechniClue that helps solve the mystery. -Present in the style of traverse staging. -Create and present two Team Choice Elements that show off the team’s interests, skills, areas of strength, and talents.
Improvisational--Close Encounters
Newsflash! Stranger things WILL happen!
Points of Interest -Research Challenge-provided confined spaces. -Create and perform a four-minute improvisational presentation within a confined space. -Show how characters work together to address a news flash. -Integrate a mysterious stranger and a team-created miscellaneous prop into the presentation.
Service Learning / Project Outreach®--The Meme Event
Grumpy cat will be even grumpier when you out-MEME him!
Points of Interest -Use the creative process to identify, design, plan, and carry out a project that addresses a real community need. -Plan and carry out at least one community event that is designed to help meet the project goal(s). -Create an effective meme to help meet the project goal(s). -Create a live presentation that highlights the project and the impact it made on the community. -Create and present two Team Choice Elements that show off the team’s interests, skills, areas of strength and talents.
Early Learning / Rising Stars!®--Change in Direction
North, south, east, or west. Hmm…which way is best?
Points of Interest -Learn about maps and how they are helpful to people. -Create a play that is about a journey your team is on. -Make a change in direction at some point during your play. -Make a map to help your team on your journey.
Instant Challenge
Instant Challenges require teams to engage in quick, creative and critical thinking. At a tournament, a team will receive an Instant Challenge and the materials with which to solve it. The team members must think on their feet by applying appropriate skills to produce a solution in a period of just five to eight minutes.
In a world with growing cultural connections, increased levels and types of communication, and a new need for real-time teamwork and problem solving, the ability to solve problems quickly is becoming increasingly critical.
Instant Challenges are performance-based, task-based, or a combination of the two. Although each Instant Challenge has different requirements, all Instant Challenges reward teams for their teamwork and the creativity of their solutions. Instant Challenges are kept confidential through the day of the Tournament.
What is Destination ImagiNation?
Table of Contents
Teams are tested to think on their feet, work together and devise original solutions that satisfy the requirements of the Challenges. Participants gain more than just basic knowledge and skills—they learn to unleash their imaginations and take unique approaches to problem solving.
The program consists of two main elements: the Team Challenge and Instant Challenge.
For more information, visit the international website, and the Alabama website.
Team Challenge
Team Challenges are designed to be open-ended and multidisciplinary. Teams spend several weeks or months working on the Team Challenge of their choice, and they present their solutions at Tournaments. Each of the six competitiveTeam Challenges has a different educational and creative focus:The Rising Stars! Challenge is designed for students in 2nd grade and introduces students to teamwork and creative thinking.
Instant Challenge
Instant Challenges require teams to engage in quick critical thinking. At a Tournament, a team will receive an Instant Challenge and the materials with which to solve it. The participants must think on their feet by applying appropriate skills to produce a solution in a period of just five to eight minutes. While Team Challenges build long-term problem solving and teamwork skills, Instant Challenges provide an exciting, impromptu creative experience for competing teams. By practicing Instant Challenges during the course of the season, students can increase their improvisational skills and train their minds to work quickly!Appraiser Training
TBDRegional Tournament
Saturday, ? at Discovery Middle SchoolAffiliate or State Tournament
Saturday, ? at UAHuntsvilleGlobal Finals
? at The University of Tennessee2015-16 Challenge Previews
Technical--Pace of Change
The world is full of changes, both big and small. So grab the wheel – let’s see them all!Points of Interest
-Design and build a vehicle able to carry at least one team member across the presentation site multiple times.
-Change the vehicle propulsion system and the vehicle movement method during the presentation.
-Create and present a story about change. The story will include a change in a character.
-Create and present two Team Choice Elements that show off the team’s interests, skills, areas of strength, and talents.
Scientific--In Plain Site
Now you see me, now you don’t! But wait…what’s the twist??Points of Interest
-Research the many ways that camouflage is used by organisms in nature.
-Showcase camouflage research in the visible appearance of an organism.
-Create and present a story with a plot twist that is caused by the use of camouflage.
-Apply camouflage methods to an original, team-designed and created set piece or prop.
-Create and present two Team Choice Elements that show off the team’s interests, skills, areas of strength, and talents.
Structural--Musical Mashup
Hold it together and let it play out in this musical mashup.Points of Interest
-Design and build a structure that both supports weight and is a musical instrument.
-Play a musical solo using the structure as a musical instrument.
-Tell a story with at least one musical character.
-Integrate the story with the weight placement testing of the structure.
-Create and present two Team Choice Elements that show off the team’s interests, skills, areas of strength, and talents.
Fine Arts--Get a Clue
Whodunnit? Reach back in time to get a clue!Points of Interest
-Present a mystery story set on Earth in a team-chosen time period before 1990.
-Discover, live on stage, which of the three suspect characters is responsible for the mystery.
-Include a TechniClue that helps solve the mystery.
-Present in the style of traverse staging.
-Create and present two Team Choice Elements that show off the team’s interests, skills, areas of strength, and talents.
Improvisational--Close Encounters
Newsflash! Stranger things WILL happen!Points of Interest
-Research Challenge-provided confined spaces.
-Create and perform a four-minute improvisational presentation within a confined space.
-Show how characters work together to address a news flash.
-Integrate a mysterious stranger and a team-created miscellaneous prop into the presentation.
Service Learning / Project Outreach®--The Meme Event
Grumpy cat will be even grumpier when you out-MEME him!Points of Interest
-Use the creative process to identify, design, plan, and carry out a project that addresses a real community need.
-Plan and carry out at least one community event that is designed to help meet the project goal(s).
-Create an effective meme to help meet the project goal(s).
-Create a live presentation that highlights the project and the impact it made on the community.
-Create and present two Team Choice Elements that show off the team’s interests, skills, areas of strength and talents.
Early Learning / Rising Stars!®--Change in Direction
North, south, east, or west. Hmm…which way is best?Points of Interest
-Learn about maps and how they are helpful to people.
-Create a play that is about a journey your team is on.
-Make a change in direction at some point during your play.
-Make a map to help your team on your journey.
Instant Challenge
Instant Challenges require teams to engage in quick, creative and critical thinking. At a tournament, a team will receive an Instant Challenge and the materials with which to solve it. The team members must think on their feet by applying appropriate skills to produce a solution in a period of just five to eight minutes.In a world with growing cultural connections, increased levels and types of communication, and a new need for real-time teamwork and problem solving, the ability to solve problems quickly is becoming increasingly critical.
Instant Challenges are performance-based, task-based, or a combination of the two. Although each Instant Challenge has different requirements, all Instant Challenges reward teams for their teamwork and the creativity of their solutions. Instant Challenges are kept confidential through the day of the Tournament.
2013-2014 challenges